Yup bad article, just the first paragraph which is Polygon comparing a PS4 dev kit to a X1 retail Unit, which as i said if MS live up to that promise great, but right now retail kits cant be used as dev kits and the dev kits dont cost $500.

selnor1983 said:

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/two-free-xbox-one-dev-kits-for-indies-as-microsoft-tries-to-woo-small-studios/0120327

Microsoft have GIVEN indie devs free kits until the retail unis are opened up this year.

End result is free on max $500 on box One. 1 year free PS4 then $2500.

Developing indies on PS4 is more expensive after 1 year.

they are trying to achieve launch parity...

...it means that small developers that cannot launch on all platforms at once are forced to chose xbox before playstation if they want to be multiplatform which means that xbox gets a bunch of timed exclusives without having to entice developers (aka moneyhat) for them.   it means playstation can't get any free timed exclusive that would make xbox look like a second rate system.

as much as i hate to say it, this might be good business.   right now it's a gamble with how successful will sony be relative to MS.   if MS has a big enough market share that indie's feel that have to be multiplat xbox will get a bunch of free timed exclusives.   if sony pulls far enough ahead of MS that indies don't feel the need to be on xbox they'll start loosing games that become defecto playstation/pc exclusives.   ...bullies can only bully if they are viewed as strong.

we'll see how this plays out.  but as a playstation fan and a fan of indie games i know what i'm rooting for.

Both devkits will continue to be free... nobody will pay after this year... while you are developing and the company like your game you will never pay for the devkit.

selnor1983 said:

"However, sources in the report suggest that, in fact, PS4 dev kits are not being sold and, instead, are being lent out to developers for free for a limited period of one year."

http://www.nowgamer.com/news/2019416/ps4_dev_kits_being_handed_out_like_candy.html

There over 40 articles on this.

Ive presented he facts. Now carry on. Theres going to be no changing your mind.

So this is still a win-win situation for Playstation and a gamble for MS.

This means that PS is getting all the indies while MS will miss out on some of them because developers will only develop first for Xbox if they plan on releasing the games on PS4 as well while some developers will be put off by this practice.

Did you read what I said?

After this year a new rent is made... no Indie will pay for devkit if there is a good game Project behind... same for Xbone.

selnor1983 said:

SOURCE?

I'm a developer and never paid for any tools to work... tools that cost over $10k per licence... that's how the indutry works... you don't need to pay to have a Visual Studio licence... MS lent it to you... after the time they share a new lent key.

Most indies devs that have a good Project never paid for devkits... same for big developers... they received a lot of devkits... they only pays if they need/wants more.